Formula 1 fans will have an absolute blast ahead of them this Sunday. The final race of the year features three title candidates bidding for the crown.

We haven’t seen something similar since 2021, when Luis Hamilton and Max Verstappen entered the last race level on points. Eventually, the now-reigning champion from the Netherlands was better that day, taking the first of four titles. However, we are not sure when the last time was that three contenders had a chance to take the championship in the final contest of the season. Undoubtedly, this will be a spectacle to remember and also to bet on.

For the moment, Lando Norris leads the way with 408 points. Verstappen is second, 12 points behind, while Oscar Piastri needs a miracle, as he currently has 392 points.

Here are F1 odds for the last race of the year.

Abu Dhabi Race Facts

  • Number of times held 16
  • First held  2009
  • Most wins (drivers)  Lewis Hamilton (5)
  • Most wins (constructors)  Red Bull Racing (7)
  • Circuit length 5.281 km (3.281 miles)
  • Race length 306.183 km (190.253 miles)
  • Laps 58

Abu Dhabi GP Preview

Max will start from the pole position as the reigning champion had the best qualifying time in Saturday’s official training at the Yas Marina track. Norris will be second while Piastri sits third, ending his qualifying session 0.0028 behind his team colleague.

We can say that Verstappen routinely won the pole position, and to back up this claim, we will note that his second-fastest lap was enough for pole, while all the others struggled to gain pace and find the rhythm until the very end of the qualifiers.

We need to mention George Russell in Mercedes, who was excellent throughout the entire weekend, but after one slight mistake, he had to settle for a fourth-place starting grid. Behind him was Charles Leclerc, who is surely happy to finish such a terrible season, which is labeled as a complete disappointment.

Abu Dhabi GP History

Norris took the pole last year, and he won the race ahead of Ferrari’s duo, Sainz, Leclerc. Though until that year, Max had four straight wins and was more than dominant in Abu Dhabi.

Of active drivers, Valtteri Bottas has a win here, while other winners in Abu Dhabi were Sebastian Vettel with three wins, Nico Rosberg and Kimi Raikkonen with one triumph each.

2025 Abu Dhabi GP Preview

When looking at the current form, Max is in the best shape. And in our honest opinion, he should win this one. Why? We saw his pace and speed during the qualifiers; no one could match that, and the Red Bull driver didn’t go 100% we are sure about that.

There’s one more thing. Norris won’t push hard because he needs to finish on the podium to take the title in that case. Piastri is behind the Brit, yet we saw that the entire McLaren team subtly supports Lando, so in the event of a negative turn for the leader, we can expect the team to play a role in sacrificing Piastri. This is nothing new; we saw that in the past so many times.

Therefore, we pick Verstappen to win, as this looks like the best possible bet. Also, we think that George Russell has nice chances of reaching the podium. It has been said before that the Mercedes driver had a very good campaign here in Abu Dhabi, but unfortunately ended fourth in today’s practice. It won’t be a surprise (furthermore, we expect to see) if Russell ends up on the podium, despite all the title scenarios. This guy is having his own race, and like so many times this year, he doesn’t care about the environment.

Pick: Verstappen to win

 

 

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here